ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) has reminded various federal ministries submit their PSDP Budget proposals for the year 2014-15 to the respective Standing Committee of the National Assembly for scrutiny and recommendations for modifications.

In a letter to Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, it reminded that through a key reform passed by the outgoing 13th National Assembly, the Standing Committees of the Assembly have been empowered to scrutinize and suggest amendments, and recommend their concerned Ministry's Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for the next financial year before the same is sent to the Ministry of Finance for inclusion in the Federal Budget for the next financial year.

This change in rules now means that each ministry is supposed to submit its budgetary proposals relating to Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for the next financial year not later than the 31st January each year to the concerned Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

It may be mentioned here that on an amendment moved by a private member of the then-opposition belonging to the PML-N, Ms. Anusha Rehman Khan, MNA, the 13th National Assembly had passed the amendment in its rules on January 29, 2013.

PILDAT said that this amended rule was to be implemented in the Budget for the financial year 2013-14 but since the new Government had just then assumed the charge, there was no time to implement this rule.